We just wrapped up Race 17 under the lights at the Singapore Grand Prix. We still don't officially know how many races are left on the calendar this year, but one thing is becoming perfectly clear: the 2026 championship is effectively a wrap, and Max Verstappen is officially back in vintage form.
Here is our American take on the good, the bad, and the bizarre from Singapore.
The McLaren Drama and "Papaya Rules"
Let’s talk about Lando Norris. He is rapidly approaching Lewis Hamilton levels of being a diva, but without the Lewis Hamilton levels of championship achievement. The infamous "Papaya Rules" struck again during the Sprint race, and apparently, those rules dictate that Lando can crash into his teammate without any real reprimand.
Formula 1 needs its villains and its "look at me" personalities, so the drama is great for the sport. But if you are Oscar Piastri, you have to be looking at the exits. It’s becoming clear who the favorite child is at McLaren, and Oscar is likely realizing he needs to get out of there soon.
Ferrari’s Strategic Masterclass (In How to Lose)
Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari seem locked in an eternal struggle of questionable decisions. This weekend, they made the baffling choice not to pit Lewis under the Virtual Safety Car.
Lewis had been on soft tires longer than he had been on his mediums, which were shredded to bits. The cars behind him were catching up at two and a half seconds a lap. Pitting under the VSC was the obvious move to cut losses. Instead, Ferrari left him out there to bleed positions until the end of the race. It was painful to watch.
A Tale of Two Mercedes Drivers
Kimi Antonelli is currently sitting at 340 points—an 82-point lead over his teammate George Russell (238 points). Kimi has essentially wrapped up the championship and could officially clinch it in Austin. He figured out this Mercedes car early in the season, drove with a highly effective (if occasionally reckless) edge, and built an insurmountable lead.
George, on the other hand, seems completely lost. While Kimi snagged another podium this weekend, George barely snuck into the top ten.
Max Verstappen and Ford Red Bull Are Clicking
The entire weekend belonged to Max. He won the Sprint, learned from George beating him off the line, covered off Charles Leclerc at the start of the GP, and absolutely vanished into the distance.
For half the season, Mercedes looked so dominant that we thought nobody would catch them. Now? Max has 221 points and is only 17 points behind George for P2 in the driver standings. Ford Red Bull has dialed in their power unit, and they are making a serious late-season charge.
Midfield Flowers and Cadillac's Bottas Problem
While Max ran away with it, the midfield had some absolute standouts. Liam Lawson, Nico Hulkenberg, and Ollie Bearman (who looked fantastic in the Haas) all deserve their flowers for a great weekend of racing.
On the flip side, you have to wonder what Valtteri Bottas is bringing to Cadillac right now. He is completely off the pace of his teammate Sergio Perez. If Cadillac wants to be competitive next year, they might need to look at bringing in some fresh, young talent rather than relying on a veteran who is struggling to keep up.
Off-Track Weirdness: Naked Hotels and Software Glitches
You can always count on F1 to bring the weirdness. First, Singapore officials reportedly had to warn F1 staff to stop walking around their hotel rooms completely naked with the curtains wide open. (Remember: you're guests in a strict city-state, guys. Close the blinds).
Second, the FIA had another software glitch. This time deemed "human error." Somebody pushed the wrong button, and suddenly a few drivers essentially got artificial speed reductions/boosts on track. It feels a little too "Mario Kart" when a steward sitting in a room can push a button and alter the speed of the pinnacle of motorsport. F1 regulations are always a balancing act between innovation and safety, but dictating speed via software glitches is a step too far.
The Push for Parity
Williams team principal James Vowles has been banging the drum for lower-tier teams to get a larger slice of the financial pie to upgrade their outdated infrastructure (like wind tunnels). In a cost-cap era, giving the bottom teams a bit more allowance to catch up to the Mercedes and Red Bulls of the world is a great idea to create NFL-style parity.
Predictably, the idea is facing opposition. Gene Haas (who has made a fortune in F1 while staying frustratingly cheap) and the Racing Bulls (acting as Red Bull's loyal proxy) are reportedly against it. If F1 wants a grid where eight or nine teams can legitimately fight for a podium on any given Sunday, they need to figure out how to force this through.
